The newspaper quoted sources as saying: "The North's reconnaissance squad had infiltrated [China] with the aim of eliminating Kim Han Sol, but some of them were arrested last week by Chinese national security, and are currently under investigation at special facilities outside Beijing."

According to the report, the agents were split into "support, action and blocking" groups and had knowledge of Kim's whereabouts in China and his travel details.

He has been living in exile in China and, like his father, has been regarded as a threat to the regime of Kim Jong-Un.

In March a video was posted of a young man claiming to be Kim Han Sol. In the footage taken days after his father's death he said he was living in exile.